O'Brien hundred rallies Northants

Niall O'Brien scored his first century of the season as Northamptonshire had the better of the first day of their Division Two clash against Glamorgan at the Swalec Stadium.

The Irishman ended the day on 114 not out with Northamptonshire on 241 for four. Alex Wakely also chipped in with 75, sharing in a 154-run partnership for the third wicket with O'Brien.

After Andrew Hall won the toss his early order batsmen made rather pedestrian progress as they reached 58 for two from 31 overs at lunch on a slow wicket.

James Harris, linked with a move to top flight Nottinghamshire, got the opening breakthrough to remove Stephen Peters - who was bowled via an inside edge.

And after replacing Harris at the Cathedral Road end Graham Wagg, from around the wicket, had David Sales caught behind attempting an expansive shot outside the off stump. That left the visitors 34 for two.

The introduction of slow left-arm bowler Dean Cosker saw a massive reduction in the run rate. He recorded pre-lunch figures of 10-7-10-0 , opening with five maidens - with O'Brien rarely coming out of his shell on the dead surface. The usually attacking batsman went into lunch with 23 from 99 balls.

The run rate improved after lunch as O'Brien reached his fourth Championship half-century of the season from 143 balls with four fours.

He was given a life on 51 when he was dropped at fine leg by Huw Waters from a hook off Graham Wagg with Northamptonshire on 103 for two at the time.

Cosker, who had been relatively economical, was hit for a straight six by Wakely - who survived a couple of confident leg before wicket appeals from the slow left-armer.

O'Brien and Wakely brought up their 100 partnership in 39 overs, reaching tea at 147 for two.

That became 150 in the evening session just before Jim Allenby claimed the first bonus point of the contest by bowling Wakely for 75. That brought Rob Newton to the middle, fresh from scoring back-to-back centuries against Derbyshire. But he was out four overs later snared leg before by Harris for only three, leaving Northamptonshire 196 for four.

O'Brien reached his first century of the season just before the close from 265 balls with nine fours in six hours 35 minutes.